Waiter-signal



(No Model.)

M. V. B. ETHRIDGEV WAITER SIGNAL.

No. 475,937. Patented May 31, 1892.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. HULT. WIRE FENCE GATE.

Patented May- 31, 1892.

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MARTIN V. I3. ETIIRIDGE, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

WAlTER-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,937, dated May 31, 1892. Application filed January 18, 1892- Serial No. 418,439. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, MARTIN V. ll. ETHRIDGE, of Everett, in the county of Middlcsex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vaiter-Signals,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a signaling device whereby a person in a restaurant can operate avisiblcsignal to attract the attention of a waiter withoutnecessarily making a noise.

The invention consists in a casin g or holder mounted upon a standard adapted to restupon a table and a spring-impelled target formed to be inclosed in and covered by said casing when not in use, said target being held in its conccaled position by a detent, the arrangement being such that by displacing the detent the target will be released and caused to be forced out of the casingby its springinto position calculated to attract the attention of a waiter.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved signal mounted upon a table-caster. Fig. 2 represents a similar VlOW, showing different means for attaching the casing to its supporting-standard. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3, Fi 1.

The same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a represents a casin g, preferably of circular form, mounted pen a standard b, which may be the central stem or standard of a table-caster, or, if preferred, it may be an independent device. The casing is here shown as com posed of two circular plates separated by an intermediate space of suflicicnt width to receive the target 0. Said target is pivoted at c to cars formed on the casing a, one edge of said casing beingleft open, so that the target can swing into and out of the casing. When the target is swung into the casing, it is concealed thereby, and when swung outwardly it is exposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

(1 represents a spring, one end of which is attached to the casing a, the other end to the target, the intermediate portion of the spring being coiled about a hub 0 affixed to the target, said hub being mounted on the pivot c. The spring is adapted to throw the target outwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

e represents a detent or latch, whiclis pref erably composed of a spring 2, allixcd at one end to one side of the casing and having at its other end a stud or finger 3, which projects through a hole in one side of the casing and is formed to enter an orifice in the target, the spring 2 being arranged to normally hold the stud 8 in engagement with the orifice a the arrangement being such that when the target is pushed into the casing it will be automatically engaged and held by the said detent. When a person desires to attract the attention of a waiter, he withdraws the detentstud 3 by means of aknob or handle 4:, affixed to the spring 2, thus releasing the target, which is thereupon thrown outwardly by its spring (1. The target is preferably of some bright color which will readily attract attention. It will be seen,thcreforc, that when the targetis released the waiter will be likely to become aware of the wants of the customer without the necessity of violent vocal or muscular effort on the part of the customer. It will be seen, also, that this device will do away with the annoyance occasioned by bells commonly used to attract the attention of waiters.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction here shown, and may variously modify the construction of the casing, the target, and the holding and releasing devices, as well as the form and arrangement of the spring.

In Fig. 1 I show the casing as forming a structural part of a table-caster, the casing being formed for engagementwith the standard I) of the caster and serving as the usual enlargement or handle at the upper end of said standard.

In Fig. 2 I show the casing as formed to be detachably secured to the handle Z1 of the standard I), the casing being provided with downwardly-proj ecti n g cars a, formed to bear on opposite sides of the handle b said ears being clamped to engage them firmly with said handle by means of a screw (L The form last described is preferred by me because it enables the signal to be conveniently applied to a table-caster of ordinary construction.

It is obvious that the target maybe thrown to its displayed position by a weight instead of by a spring. Hence I do not limit myself to a spring-impelled target, although I prefer nore compact and effective ng the target.

y be formed to rest directly :tead of being zit-fixed to a ad waiter-signal comprising in g secu red thereto, said casening at one edge, it target :ed to said casing and adaptugh said opening, a spring the target out of the casing, pted to hold the target in the h naling device comprising a ownwztrdiy projecting ears essed together by a screw or other adjusting device, whereby it may be secured to a, suitable support, said casing having an opening at one edge, a target pivot- :tlly connected to the casing and adapted to pass through said opening, a spring adapted to force the target out of the casing, and a detent adapted to hold the targetin the casing, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 11th day of I January, A. D. 1892.

MARTIN V. 13. EIIIRIDGE.

Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON. 

